The San Jose Sharks find themselves outside of the playoff picture once again, with an aging roster that isn’t likely to bounce back without some help. Though things look bleak for the Sharks right now, there is some hope for the future.
San Jose selected nine forwards in last year’s NHL Draft and the team's second selection, Thomas Bordeleau, has emerged as one of the organization’s most exciting prospects. He led the University of Michigan with 30 points in 24 games, on a team that also featured projected top-10 picks in this year’s draft, Matthew Beniers, Kent Johnson and Owen Power, along with past first-round picks John Beecher, Brendan Brisson and Cam York.
While Michigan didn't have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, Bordeleau was named Big Ten Rookie of the Year and his stats this season speak volumes. To put his numbers into perspective, here’s how his point per game average matches up against other forwards who played in the Big Ten in their season after being drafted:
Kyle Connor: 1.87
Dylan Larkin: 1.34
Thomas Bordeleau: 1.25
Luke Kunin: 1.09
Casey Mittelstadt: 0.88
While Bordeleau’s numbers may not necessarily project him as a first-line player, it’s certainly possible for him to become a top-six NHL forward. He’s a good skater with great hands and despite his size, there shouldn’t be any doubt that the Sharks got good value at 38th overall.
It’ll likely still be a good while before Bordeleau makes the jump to the NHL but right now, Bordeleau looks to be one of the organization’s top prospects.
***NOTE: We've launched a HockeyBuzz Sharks Twitter account! For anyone interested, you can follow @HB_Sharks for updates on articles, Sharks news, etc.***
Where do you see Thomas Bordeleau ranked amongst Sharks prospects?
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»